Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-22
INSECT PESTS.
WINTER WASHES RECOMMENDED
BY THE STATE INSPECTOR.
General Remedy for Scale Pests
The Destruction of Goblin and
Peach Moths-Woolly Aphis.

The State Inspector of Fruit Pests, in his
recent report to the Governor and Legisla-
ture, gives an extended chapter upon the
destruction of insect pests, and the follow
ing is then given as remedies applicable
during the dormant season:
The most successful winter wash against
the armored scales, such as the Perniciosus
scale (.4spidiotls rernicios,ts), the greedy
scale (Aspidiotus rapar), and even for the
oystershell bark louise (Aspidiotus chonchi-
fornais) the best protected of all, have
proved to he those containing part soda and
part potash I've. From personal experience
we recommend two formulas of this kind
Per cent?
l 10. OF solid concentrated Am. I've, or.....SO
34ib of powdered caustic soda, or..............9S
ii. of powdered caustic soda, or...-...........76
114,lbs. of powdered caustic soda, or........63
TO be dissolved in ~ gallons of water.
Any one of these to pounds of CONNER
cial potash, 50 per cent.
This proportion was, l believe, first
recommended by NJ. Cooke. and has in all
cases which have come under my observa-
ton proved very successful.
ANOTHER FORMULA
Recommended by Professor Hilgard is uu-
doubtedly equally good, but | have not
had an opportunity to see its results, ex-
cept in one or two cases. As will be seen
from prices given below, it will cost about
one cent gallon less than the above:
One pound of solid concentrated I've
(Am.) or.......................... per cent
FOur-fitths of pound of powdered
caustic soda, or.......................Bp per cent
One pound of powdered caustic
SODA, per cent.
One and one-quarter pounds of pow
dered caustic soda, or................6S per cent
To be dissolved in two gallons of water.
Any one of these to one-half pound of
commercial potash, at 80 per cent.
The prices of soda and potash vary con-
siderably. Caustic soda is high Just now
Greenbank, SO per cent, is worth 81 cents
in cases of 240 pounds; in small lots, say
10 cents per pound.
Caustlc per cent.
Caustlc per cent.
Concentrated (solid) American I've, so per
cent, is sold at about II cents per pound
First sorts Of potash commercial potash !,
containing about % per cent. of caustic
potash, 81 cents, in drums of 600 pounds
small quantities, 9 cents.
THE BEST TINE TO APPLY ALKALINE WASHES.
The vast difference in results with aka
line washes-notably with those contain
ing soda alone-are due not alone to their
very varying strength, but to atmospheric
conditions also. We quote Professor Hill
gard
"In examining trees that have been
sprayed with soda I've alone on a sunny
day. it will sometimes be found that within
an hour after the spraying, the dry por-
tons are covered with network of small
white needles, resembling white frost.
These needles are simply solid carbonate
of soda, and show that by the action of the
dry air the elasticity of the I've has been
quickly destroyed. The bland, common,
sal soda has taken its place, and the action
is practically at an end.
I" 1t is quite otherwise when the spraying
has been done on moist or foggy day, or
late in the afternoon, SO that the I've re-
mains in liquid condition. 1t then goes
on working for many hours, eating away
the edges of the old scale, and finally reach
ing to the old insect or eggs inside and,
should favorable weather continue, the
toughest old inhabitants may thus be de-
stroyed in a single application.
1.-The use of potash compounds in con-
nection with the soda I've aids materially
in maintaining the active corrosion. more
or less independently of moist weather, by
preventing the rapid evaporation and solid
ification that so often puts premature end
to it. Moreover, the potash compounds so
used ultimately reach and remain in the
soil, and act as a fertilizer when needed,
so that the money spent on them is not
gone with the insects"